Understanding The Egyptian Revolution(s) 2011-2013

The Egyptian revolution of 2011 overthrew President Hosny Mubarak after 18 days of protests. The former President delegated his powers to the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) on February 11^th 2011. More than a year later, SCAF handled elections, and Muslim Brotherhood figure “Mohamed Morsy” became the next Egyptian President on June 30^th 2012. A year later, he was also overthrown, after two days of protests June 30^th 2013- July 3^rd 2013.

Helpful tips to understand the structure of the Egyptian society, social trends, traditional judgments, and incidents of the Egyptian revolution 2011 can be viewed in this article about The Bachelors of Egypt, a contemporary novel set in Egypt 2011.

The following video from July 2013 can help highlight a few aspects:

Egypt has only been led by military figures since 1953 (excluding Mohamed Morsy June 2012-June 2013):

·                              Mohamed Naguib (1953-1954)

·                              Gamal Abdel Nasser (1954-1970)

·                              Anwar El-Sadat (1970-1981)

·                              Mohamed Hosny Mubarak (1981-2011)

·                          Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (2014-Present) 

The main political players in Egypt 2011-2013:

•          Figures of Mubarak’s regime, members of his National Party, and a few influential businessmen
•          Military Generals, acting as the most influential political lobby since 1952
•          The Muslim Brotherhood, a political movement that advocates that states should be based on Islamic law. The movement was banned under Mubarak, and was allowed to form its first political party under SCAF.
•          Marginalized political activists and rebels, mostly youth.

The Economic Dominance of the Egyptian Army:

•          Land ownership
•          Factories that are staffed with conscripted civilians… free labor
•          The main player in various industries; construction services, old and gas, fast moving consumer goods…
•          Controlling more than 40% of the Egyptian economy

An essential element missing in the video: The Main Revolutionary Incidents in Egypt 2011-2012… when army leaders and Muslim Brotherhood figures were "best friends":

The Supreme Council of Armed Forces was ruling the country for almost a year and a half, between February 11^th 2011, and June 30^th 2012, when the newly elected president Mohamed Morsy took office, who was also overthrown after a year of presidency, on June 30^th 2013.

·                     25 January 2011, the beginning of protests against Mubarak’s regime

·                     28 January 2011, the disappearance of police forces, post clashes with citizens, and the beginning of the country’s paralysis phase

·                     11 February 2011, Former President Mubarak delegated his authorities to the Supreme Council of Armed Forces

·                     March 2011, Mubarak was finally declared to face trials, after a few protests

·                     8 April 2011, another peaceful sit-in at Tahrir Square was uniquely differentiated, as 15 military soldiers and officers joined the demonstrators’ side, until they were all arrested to face military trials.

·                     September 2011, military tanks ran over protesters, a significant state of chaos in a demonstration organized by a few Christian Political Activists at the time

·                     18 November – 25 November 2011, continuous clashes between military forces and policemen on one side, and protestors on the other, with endless numbers of casualties

·                     December 2011, another peaceful sit-in, with more civilians dragged on the streets, and more bloodshed

·                     February 2012, a football game between El-Ahly club and El-Masry club turned into a massacre with more than 75 of “Ultras Ahlawy” fans dead

More about the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, the political scene in Egypt 2011-2013 in this article: Egyptian Revolution 2011: The Bachelors of Egypt.

Despite violence, casualties and consequent clashes, 2011-2012 was a brief era of enlightenment in the Egyptian society. Read more on Philosophical Legacy: The Bachelors of Egypt.

Related Books:

1- The Bachelors of Egypt: The Bachelors of Egypt Paperback, The Bachelors of Egypt Kindle US, The Bachelors of Egypt Kindle UK

2- Enlightened Populism: Reflections on the News Cycle of a Pandemic, Enlightened Populism Kindle US, Enlightened Populism Kindle UK